An atmospheric river has pummeled parts of Washington and Oregon with heavy rain this week, and potentially record-breaking flooding continues to devastate parts of the state.
After three days of heavy rainfall, 12 to 16 inches of rain fell across a large swath of western Washington state, according to the National Weather Service (NWS) in Seattle. Skies began to calm Thursday, Dec. 11, but affected rivers and waterways were still flooded with excess water from two atmospheric river storms that passed through the region in succession, the National Weather Service reported.
Atmospheric rivers, also known as “rivers of the sky” or “Pineapple Express,” are long, narrow corridors of concentrated water vapor in the atmosphere. They form when warm air from the tropics moves toward the poles ahead of powerful storm fronts. They work similarly to rivers on the ground, but can carry much more water across thousands of miles.
Check out the forecast: Catastrophic flooding triggers evacuation in Washington state.
Severe river flooding is expected to continue through the weekend as the storm recedes, according to the National Weather Service. Drone footage of the Puyallup River provided by local police showed the river swollen, overflowing its banks and flowing into the city on Wednesday, December 10, while the National Weather Service in Seattle warned that severe flooding was expected at 16 river points on Thursday, December 11.
Residents are urged to follow official updates, be aware of standing water on roads and “drive with caution” as multiple flood warnings and watches are in place across the state. The state of emergency remains in place and tens of thousands of people are under evacuation and observation.
Photos showed the aftermath of the downpour, including cars half-submerged in floodwaters and residents using boats to navigate flooded areas.
See photos of devastating flooding in Washington
A sign warning drivers to be aware of flooding is partially covered by water in an area flooded by the Snohomish River, December 11, 2025, in Snohomish, Washington, as an atmospheric river brings rain and flooding to the Pacific Northwest.
Drone footage shows Bob Peterson in a boat searching for items that floated away from a Little League baseball field in the flooded area of ​​the Snoqualmie River, the atmospheric river that brings rain and flooding to the Pacific Northwest, on December 9, 2025 in Fall City, Washington.
Rescue workers carry luggage for evacuated residents in an area flooded by the Snohomish River, the atmospheric river that brings rain and flooding to the Pacific Northwest, on Dec. 11, 2025, in Snohomish, Washington.
Drone footage shows homes in an area flooded by the Snohomish River in Washington state on Dec. 11, 2025, the atmospheric river that brings rain and flooding to the Pacific Northwest.
As atmospheric rivers bring rain and flooding to the Pacific Northwest, Bob Peterson searches for items that floated away from a Little League baseball field in a flooded area of ​​the Snoqualmie River on December 9, 2025 in Fall City, Washington.
Contributors: Reuters, Jeanine Santucci, Julia Gomez, USA Today
This article originally appeared in USA TODAY: Devastating floods inundate parts of Washington state. See photos.
